Grinding-machine.



H. B. NHOLS. GRINDING MACHINE.

AIPPLIHJMON FILED AUG. 21, 190s.

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H. B. NICHOLS.

n GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.21, 1908.

Patented 106. 2, i909.

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H. B. NICHOLS.

GRINDINC- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.21, 190s.

Patented 1560.21, i909. y

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GRIND'ING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Amm, 1903.

Patente Das. 2, l.

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H. B. NGHoLs. GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUGQZl., 1908.

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Witwen@ @Ewan/Mg HENRY B. NICHOLS, oF PHILADELPHIA,

GRINDING-MACH'INE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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PENNSYLVANIA.

.Application led August 21, 1908. Serial No. 449,674

To all whom it may co'raer'rt:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. NrcnoLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (lrindingMachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. i

My invention relates to grinding machines, and has for its object the production of a machine of this class suitablefor grinding railway rails in place. The heads of such rails become corrugated or roughened in use, and itl has been customary to use either portable tiles moved by hand over the rails, or some Such manually operated devices are not only slow and ineiiicient, but are expensive to maintain as well as tofoperate, while the rotary grinders have proved to be unsatisfactory in practice,.because of the wear on the wheels, which must constantly be taken up, and because they accentuatethe hollows instead of smoothing them ont.

According to my present invention I provide a truck with two wheels in tandem and a long narrow frame having a pair of side members supporting a platform over the wheels, and extended at` one end to form guides for a reciprocating supplemental frame on which vertical guides are formed for a weighted holder or carrier in which a plurality Yof abrasive bricks are adjustably clamped. A motor is mounted on the lat,- form, and workiiig connections provide for reciprocating the supplemental frame and the carrier so as to move the bricks back and forth on the surface of the rail. The dimensions of the carrier and of the bricks employed are such as to bridge over any hollows in the rails, and the weight of the carrier maintains constant contact regardless of wear on the bricks.

Important features of the invention are the provision of braking means for both Wheels, with .elements acting in opposite di-vl reetions, and the location of the motor and heavy .operating parts directly over the wheels, whereby the fran'ie is held stationary, and the grinder may be -reciprocated over a particular spot for any desired length of time.

My invention is illustrated in the acconilv,

yp, and transverse end pieces 0', connectedv by an ing. drawings in which:

l a a a l Figure l`is a side view form of rotary grinders.

of my complet-e grinding machine upon a railway track, ready for operation. This ligure is divided for convenience into two halves marked respectively (a) and Fig. :2 is a plan `view of the same. This figure is also divided into two halves marked respectively (a) and (b). Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 1 and 2.- Figs. 4, 5 and (3 are respectively a plan, a side, and an end view, on a reduced scale, of the trunk, with the other parts removed.

Referring' to the drawings, it should be observcdat the outset that the division of Figs. l and 2 into halves will be ignored in this description, and the same treated as if they were one,` reference'merely being made to Fig. l or Fig. 2 as the case may be.

There are three principal component parts of this invention, viz., the grinder Gr, the motor mechanism truck C. (See Fig. l.) Since the rails are to be surfaced along a straight line, and also because simplicity of design is essential in apparatus of this character, which has to be handled by persons who are ignorant and frequently careless, I have adopted a right truck is virtually a bicycle 'with girder frame, extending along and riding over the rail whose head is to be ground. The grinder is mounted at one end of this truck, and .the motor mechanism at the other.

In order to`hold the machine in proper vertical trim, an Outrigger is provided, having` athird wheel at its extremity gaged to rurl upon the mate rail. The motor is supposed to derive its power through temporary connections 4from the railway trolley wire or feeders, but of course this may be supplied in 'any other convenient Way.

The truck wheels are provided with suitable brake mechanism t-o hold the machine stationary while erated.

Withvthis brief preliminary description, a more detailed statement will be readily understood.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have therein shown' he truck C with the other parts removed fer -tlie sake of .elearness'of illustration.

of a girder frame built of side channel irons Patented nec. ai, ieoef" M, and the supporting4 the grinder is being op-r Itcensists essentially line principle of design throughout. The

one end the means of riveted angles or knees as usual in structures of this type. Upon the iron frame a platform c2 is laid, to which the motor and other parts are bolted. On the iiiner side of the frame7 are secured a pair of sockets c3 from which project the converging arms of an Outrigger c4- connected at their outer end by a cap c5, carrying a stub axle cu for the Wheel c7 this being threaded for purposes of adjustment, and provided with a lock nutr o8. The two principal Wheels of the bicycle truck are shown at c and c1", being fixed bencath the frame exactly on the center line thereof, and if necessary provided with lateral adjustments so that they may be accurately lined up with the grinder G. At frame is provided with a t`rans-- verse handle or push-bar c, and at the other end on the side opposite the Outrigger, with a single grip or handle cl2. By means of Athese handles and the Outrigger, the machine may be easily and quickly removed from and replaced upon the rails, and when inv position maybe propelled.

The girder fraine in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is shown broken away at the grinder end, the platformstoppin short of that portion of 'the device, as in icated in'Figs t and 5. InFig. l however, the frame c is shown extended, with a slight drop at cl3, which permits the grinder carriage to be brought closer to the rail. This carriage is shown in Fig. 2 (a), and comprises a hollow slide frame g, and a heavy vertically movable cast-iron block g reeiprocated by the frame g, and carrying the bricks or grinding bodies g2 of carborundum or equivalent material. The frame g haslongitudinal recipro'cating motion only, being driven back and forth by the motor, and held to the frame c by the slide plates g3 working upon a bed upon each side of the frame, between stops (/4. The block gon the other hand has b otli horizontal and vertical motion, traveling with the frame g as it reciprocates, but permitted te rise and fall therein by the vertical guides g5 carried on the frame and fitting vertically sidewise cut or cast in the block. y

I have referred to the bricks g2, which are formed of suitable abrasive material, and

are adjustably held in a recess or recesses in,4

the block g. lAdjustment of these bricks is necessary, because of possible variations in hardness and wearing quality. For this purpose the vertical pressure screws g are provided, with lock nuts lr/T. The outlines of the chamber for' the bricks may be seen at y", and as shown thc screws g pass down into this chamber and have their headsl bearing directly upon the respective bricks.

Suitable friction devices may be inte'rposed,

such as caps orplatee between the ends of the screws and the heads of the bricks. One

common socket-piece or art.

Vreciprocates in bearings mi',

shown in Figs. l` and 2 upon'a supplemental 7v cross-beam or brace c of the frame, and sev 'curedin addition by angles cl5 upon the platforni c2.

The grinding bricks when adapted to be clamped between the solid abutment g1 at one end of the block g', and the end plate g controlled by the locking bolt gli', at the other end thereof. Suitable distance pieces are provided between the bricks', and when the bolt g1g is set up and its lock nut tightened, the'bricks are held together a solid unit. A unit of this character, built up vof smaller units, is much better for my purposes than an undivided body of material would be, for reasons that will b'e suliciently obvious to those skilled in the adjustedv are The driving mechanism M consists 'of the motor m, a cam shaft mf driven thereby, and a grooved cam block m2 upon said shaft. This block in its rotation reciprocates the connecting rod D, which is connected to the grinder frame. The motor frames m3 are bolted to the platformaz, at the opposite end of the latter from the grinding mechanism. Upon the motor shaft is fitted a pendant m4, which meshes with the Wheel m5, keyed to .the cam shaft m. The cam m2 is: provided with a continuous groove m which is helical for a little less than 180;on each side, but circular for a short space at each end, there-` by perinitting a period of rest at each reversal of the connecting rod D. The motion is communicated to this rod through a roll d carried ona stud Z2 bolted tothe upperl end of a post Z3 on the rod D. The post d3 is provided midway of its length with an enlargement di* bored rod (Z5, projecting from and anchored in the bearing frame m7. Both the frames m7 and l m8 of the .-cam shaft m are bolted to the platform a2. l t may be here observed that where these and other arts are described as screwed to /the platfbrm, they may of course be screwed to iron bridges of the 1 frame, or to the frame itself. The shaft D V in the frame i pieces 'mi and m8. It is made of sufiicient diameter .and mass'` to stand considerable rough usage, and some sprung or thrown out outer en'd it is attached to the grinder frame by vmeans of the elbow d, having a pivoted bearing rj at its lower end, and a gib and key connection d at its upper end. By l to take over the guide strains without being of alineineiit. At its O The motor taking out the key, and throwing back the elbow al, the block and iframe may at any time be removed.

F or the purpose of holding the truck stationary onfthe rail It during grinding, I provide a pair of band brakes c and c', connected by adjustable links e2, e3 to opposite points e4 and c5 on a lever e0 pivoted at c7 and controlled through an extension arm es and link e9 by the end lever E. This lever is pivoted at. el and provided with a latch c taking into the teeth of a ratchet arm-cU bolted to the cides with the pivot oint c1". The latch is controlled by ay hand e cl3 pivoted one side of the operating handle c, action being thus rendered both simple and powerful. The bands c and c are stretched around friction drums @Wand 01" fixed on the outer ends of the main axles of the truck. The pivot post c7 of the lever c8 is bolted to the side frame c, through `a reinforcing plate c7", riveted to the frame. Little or no strain comes on this pivot post if the brake links are properly adjusted, because of the equal and opposite pulls. It should also be noted that the anchor posts c and el of the brake bands e and c are an opposite drag on thetwo wheels, thus opposing maximum resistance to movement of the truck in either direction. f

In operation, the machine is'fnst lifted onto the track rails, with the truck body over the rail which is toY be ground. It is then pushed-along by means of the hand c until thegrinding bricks g2 are` in proper position, the brake lever E pulled over to lock the wheels, and the hand lever g13 released from the stop 4g14 and swung up so as to lower the block g until the bricks rest upon the tread of the rail. vThe motor m is then started, using "a suitable switch or rheostat which is not shown, as it may be oi'any usual or desired type and forms no part ot the-present invention.

It may be stated incidentally that I am of course not limited vto the use of an electric motor, other motors, such as portable steam pneumatic, or hydraulic machines being available for 'this purpose. motor willordinarilybe the most suitable howevert` 'nd as the vmachine illustrated is 'designed-for the use of such a motor,`it will be claimed specifically herein.

i vbeing started, the cam' cylinder mgis rotated, and the lroll al travels bac-k and forth in its groove, producing a reciprocating motion of the plunger or connecting rod l) which is communicated directly. to the :trame 3 and thereby .tothe blnclig and the grip ing bricks g2.

Vlam fully aware that many changes may bemade in the construction-of this machine witheut departing from the generai principlesfinvolved, or .thespirit' of myinven--i trame so that its center coin-' located so as to produce An electric tion.` For example, the cam cylinder '1n-2, instead of having a groove to receive the roll d', may have a male cam or rib, working between a pair of rolls d', this arrangement having the ad\f'antage that the -rolls will turn in opposite'directions continuously, without a reversal. A track brake, or some form of chocks may also be employed either in place ot the band brake, or as auxiliary thereto. I further contemplate in some places, and in order to obviate the necessity for any brake on the wheels, the provision of a pair of slides or frames g, each with a block g, thc frame c being lengthened out sutlic-iently for these parts to be placed cud to ond and in lineI with each other. The motor connections will then reciprocate these -in opposite directions, which may be through a'pair of cam cylinders m2, or a single cylinder alined .between a pair lof plungcrs l), each having a stud, and these studs working in opposite, sides of thc groove m0. Each ot' the two plungers would then be connected to one of the slides, and as they worked reciprocally on the rail the entire truck could be moved along continuously without interfering with the grinding. If a reciprocating steam pneumatic or hydraulic motor beiused in place of the electric motor m, it is possible to do away 9 Withthe cam drum m2 entirely, connecting the plunger or rod D directly to the piston rod or its equivalent of the engine. For a steam engine the boiler Wouldq also preferably be mounted onthe truck.

It is to be clearly understood that all ,such non-essential changes are to beincluded Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,v what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPat4 105 ent ofthe'United States is:

l. A. grinding machine comprising vOfuides supported over the work, a frame a apied to reciprocate in said guides in a plane parallel to the surface of the work, a body of 1510 abrasive material, and a holder therefor adjustable in the frame toward and away from the'surface of they work together with a motor for reciprocating the frame, substantially as described.

2. A grinding machine comprising a pair of parallel supporting members or guides, a frame fitted to slide between and upon said members, a weight holder or carrier iitted'` on slides in said frame so as to have motion perpendicular to the plane thereof, and means for reciprocating the trame, substantially as described.

A machine for grinding horizontal surfaces comprising a pair or `p members, a frame fitted to slidcbetween said members, a holder or carrier of relatively lar e mass fitted to-'said frame so as to vhave ree vertical movement relatively thereto but to travel horizontally therewith.. 130

loo

aralll Aguide said truck and a grinder comprising a wheeled truck a body of abrasive material in said holder, and means to reciprocate the frame on the guide members, substantially as described.

fl. A machine for grinding horizontal surfaces comprising a main supporting frame having guideways, an auxiliary frame fitted to slide horizontally thereon, a relatively heavy holder or carrier moving horizontally with said frame, but free to move vertically therein, a body of abrasive material supported iii said holder, means to liftthe holder in the frame, and means to reciprocate the frame, substantially as described.

5. A machine for grinding horizontal siii'- faces comprising a main supporting frame having parallel horizontal guidcways, an open auxiliary frame adapted -to-slide thereon, a relatively heavy holder or carrier traveling' with said auxiliary frame but having free vertical motion therein, a plurality of bodies of abrasive material carried by said holder with clamping and adjusting` means for the same, and means forv reciprocating said auxiliary` frame, substantially as described.

y6. A machine for grinding horizontal sui'- faces comprising an open vrectangular main supporting frame having horizontal guide- Ways, an o en rectangular auxiliary frame litted to slit e therein, a heavy holder or carrier recessed upon its lower side to receive a body of abrasive material, and fit-ted upon vertical slides Within the said auxiliary frame, means for adjusting and clamping the abrasive body in the holder, a bracket or support carried on and extending above the main frame, lifting means for the said holder or carrier supported. upon said bracket, and means to reciprocate the' auxiliary traine, substantiallyas described.

'7. A machine for grinding railway rails comprising a Wheeled truck adapted to travel upon and over the rail to the ground, a reciprocating grinder carried in guides formed by adongitudinal extension of they truck iframe,4 a driving motor :tor the grinder mounted on the truck, and a double acting brake with controlling means therefor', adapted to hold the truck motionless while the grinder reciprocates, substantially as described.

8. A machine for grinding railway rails having oppositelyI acting braking means for the tivowlieels adapted to hold it stationary Aupon a rail, an extension guide frame on one end adapted to reciprocate therein, together'with a motor on the truck and operative connections between the grinder andsaid motor, substantially as described.

9. A machine for grinding' railway rails ycomprising a wheeled truck having a tivoway brake for holding it stationary upon a rail, an extension guide frame on said .truck l l 1 l 10. A machine for grinding railway rails comprising a Wheeled truck having a tWosvay brake for holding it stationary upon a iail, an extension guide frame on said truck and a grinder adapted to reciprocate therein, together with a rotary` motor mounted on the truck, a reciprocating plunger for driving .the grinder, and a cam drum adapted to translate the rotary motion of the motor into reciprocating motion of said plunger, the cam surfaces on said drum being shaped so as to give a dead stop to the plunger and grinder before each reversal ol motion, substantially as described.

l1. A machine for grinding railway rails comprising a tandem two-Wheeled truck iaving an extended frame formed of'iron members, the Wheels of said truck traveling on, and alining the same With, the rail to be ground, guideivays formed at one end of said frame, a grinding device fitted t reciprocate longitudinally on said giiideways, reciprocating-means on the truck for driving said grinding device, and a motor therefor also on the truck, substantially as described.

l2. A machine for grinding railway rails comprising a tandem two-Wheeled truck having an extended frame formed of iron members, the Wheels of said truck traveling on, and aliniiig the same With, the rail to be ground, guideways formed at one end of said frame, a grinding device fitted to reciprocate on said guideways, reciprocating means on the truck for driving said grinding device, and a motor therefor also on the truck, together with means for lockingthe truck Wheels against motion in either direction, substantially as described.

and parallel to a rail, guideupon extensions of the side to aline it over wa ys .formed members of said trame, a Weighted holder or carrier having a projecting body of abrasive material on its under side and fitted within said guides so as to have both longitudinal and vert-ical reciprocating motiontliereon, a motor mounted on the frame, a reciprocating plunger mounted in guides 0n the frame, and connections from said plunger to the carrier and to the motor respectively, substantially yhas described.

14. A machinefor Winding railway rails A comprising an elongated portable frame with means for supporting it over and par-.

allel to a rail to be surfaced, parallel extensions on the side members of said frame forming longitudinal guides therefor having vertical Vslideways in on the frame,

the frame, substantially as described.

15. In a grinding end of the frame, an

reciprocate in said guides inthe axis of thel frame, said Iinder comrisin 'a heavy .body hollow a bricks ef abrasive material arraned paralt e holder, an adjustable pressure screw passing throughl of the holder overeaeh brick, and

out beneat lel to each other in-the cavity-of the top clam in'g means on the end of the holder for all e bricks, together with a' working connectionbetween the holder and themotor,

` substantially as described.

16'. A, machine for grinding railway rails comprising a narrow elongated frame carrying a platform over part of its length, and

having longitudinalv side members formingA lruideways 'for the balance of itsv length a its ongitudinal with, a motor ides, a pair of slides iitted u on said gui es, a pair of vertical orni'edcn said slides, a'body of abrasive material, a weighted holder or carrier g v machine for4 railway rails, a wheeled truck having an elongated frame, motor and braking means on said formed on the` urality of pair -'of .wheels journaled in tandem 'under the frame adapted to travel u on'the rail to ,be round, .and to maintain y eframe with axis in arallelism thereon the p atform, grinding its l 1 l comprising a nari-civ, elongated frame carryingy Va Plat formfcvm'- i and having forming g'uideway's'or the' balance of its length, a pair of wheels journaled in tan-v means, and a holder or carrier therefor eonas r be grinder, and means to lock said wheels nected to the motor and arranged to ment with the wheels, scribed.

17. A machine for grinding railway rails a' .narrow elongated frame careomp rying a p tform over part of its le and havi' longitudinal Aside mem forming guideilvays for the'balance of len li, a pair of wheels journaled in tandem un er the frame ada ted to travel upon the anl to maintain the frame with its longitudinal axis inpaiallelism therewith, a motor on the platform, grinding means, and a holder or carrier therefor connected to the motor and arranged to be moved back and forth thereby on the guideways of the frame, sb as to Work in alinerail'to be ground,

dem Wheels carrying t with the principal longitudinal axis thereof the mate rail' to y 8. A machinefor grinding railway rails A part of its length,

loig'i'l'iiidinalA side Imembers dein under the frame adapted to travel upon the rail to be frame with its o'ngitudinal axis in parallelism therewith, a

a grinder mountedjtof "grinding means,

round, and to maintain the motorv on the platform,

ie guideways of the frame, so as to work Wheels in tandemvsupporting and alining said frame, working in guides maintained 1n allneincnt said Wheels, together with a motor for the grinder, substantially described.

y 20. A machine for grinding railway rails'- -coniprising an elongated frame carrying a motor, connected tothe motor and thereby recipro-l .cated in A the guideway, to

and a reciprocating grinder on the rail by a guideway, and a grinding device he. rame and alined well as the direction of mot-ion of the reciprocating grinder comprising a plurality of adjusting' each brick, all the bricks when ador reciprocating tlie carrs rier in the direction of its length, so as to its work the individual bricks whereby'a cumulative effect is obtained and Abreakage or loss of adjustment of one brick does not atleet the general o l p In testimony whereof I a `1x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses -in tandem,

eration.

HENRY B. NICHOLS.

HARRY C. HEA'roN, BENJ. S'rorr.

ether with .tan-V and' a holder or carrier. erefor connected to the motor and ranged to be moved back and forth thereby. on t in alinement with the wheels, together with .means ,to maintain .the frame stationary over the rail while grinding. f.

.19.`A machine for grinding railway rails comprising'mn elongated frame, a pair of on the frame, andA so l 

